Reader users can subscribe to their favorite blogs or other websites, organize the feeds into categories and then easily scan headlines or excerpts from each update, or click on a link to read the full post on the original site.īut these news “aggregators” have fallen out of favor with some, as more people have become accustomed to getting their updates on Facebook and Twitter - even if those social networks can be a little more hit-and-miss than a dedicated service like Google’s. Google Reader, for those who never tried it, is a handy service that constantly pulls in “feeds” or new posts from different blogs and other sites - using Web-reading software known as RSS - and then lists them all on a single Web page.Īs with other RSS readers that emerged over the last decade, you could use Google’s service to keep up with dozens of different sources on the Web, without constantly going back to each site to see what’s new. I’ve been playing with a number of them, and I particularly liked Feedly and Pulse. In recent years, I’ve used Google Reader to keep tabs on dozens of tech websites and blogs each day.Īnd like millions of others who relied on it, I’ve been trying to figure out what to do when Google pulls the plug on its popular Reader service at the end of this month.įortunately, there are several decent alternatives to help people track updates from all manner of websites relating to their jobs, hobbies or other personal interests. You can import Google Reader subscriptions in a matter of seconds and share links via Facebook or Twitter.Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close MenuĪs a news junkie, by nature and profession, I’ve developed my own strategies for keeping track of what’s new on the Internet. It also prioritises stories it thinks you’ll prefer, pushing them to the top of the page. It’s far more visually-driven than the other two options here, with large images dominating its front page. If you want to use Reader’s demise as a chance to switch up your RSS reader experience to something a bit different, consider Pulse. It also lacks a real mobile app, and is viewable only through web browsers. xml file from Reader and importing it to The Old Reader. This has to be done manually by downloading an. However, it lacks the third-party link-sharing of Google Reader and the one-touch importing of Reader subscriptions. Not only does it feature a similarly “utilitarian” design, it echoes its predecessor’s dedication to simple, easy sharing of links. The Old Reader was created almost as soon as Google announced Reader’s imminent demise. Verdict: It’s Google Reader – but much easier on the eyes It’s highly customisable, syncs to other apps like Reeder and you can easily import your existing Google Reader RSS feeds (do this ASAP, because after Reader’s shutdown you may find they’re unavailable). Little surprise that it has already has around 12 million users. Here are three classy alternatives to Reader.įeedly seems to have become the de facto successor to Google Reader, because it offers a similarly clean, clutter-free take on displaying RSS feeds (particularly if you switch the view to “Title Only” mode). But even as we pour some malt liquor on the ground for our fallen homie, we look to the future. The whys and the wherefores are pretty irrelevant from tomorrow, as Reader will be no more. Yesterday was zero-hour for Google Reader, the well-loved RSS reader that Google decided to shut down for… well, we’re not entirely sure but it probably has to do with encouraging people to use Google Plus more or something.
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